Gratitude: The Most Basic Root of Spirituality (and the greatest missing link today)

The spirituality industry used to be so “cool” over a decade ago. Twelve years ago it wasn’t “cool” and “hip” to grow kombucha, wear crystals around your neck and meditate in a yoga ashram. People did this either because they were genuinely seeking a life change or were always into unicorns and narwhals ever since childhood.
Times have changed and the adulteration of the spirituality and the “all-natural” industry is full on. Enlightened yoga gurus have sexually abused emotionally damaged women. And supposed “compassionate” vegans throw their bible in the air condemning anyone with a voice that differs from them.

As more people “awake” to certain changes, the materialistic growth of the industry has evolved into people becoming vultures or narcissistic leaders who have a man bun and wear nine-thousand trinkets on their wrist. Along with the increase of intellect and reason, many people believe that once they get their certification or reiki attunements, that they are living embodiments of the most knowledgeable and sacred teacher on earth.

Isn’t it ironic that some of the most world-renowned leaders were simple, humble beings? Gandhi, Jesus, Saint Francis, Mother Theresa – these teachers came from an authentic and pure place.

Through the last few years, I’ve sat and watched this industry playout. One of the biggest “missing links” is the connection to gratitude. 

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Society is more entitled now than ever before, specifically in the United States, and the millennial instant gratification phenomena has lost common sense on the natural and organic path of growth. Everything today is easy. We go to the one-stop grocery shop that has everything we need. A Google map tells us how to get from point A to point B. And we halfheartedly say, “thank you” to those who promote us. 

My point is that we’ve lost the sense of cultivation and some of it must do with the increase in intellect (logic) and the lack of intelligence (spirit). When we aim to progress our lives, such as dedicating one-year to a yoga teacher training, we expect an outcome, or an entitlement that we deserve that job, or students should praise us “since we are so smart.”  We must learn to balance intellect and intelligence.

Gratitude is defined as, “the quality of feeling or being thankful or grateful.”

I believe there are many false leaders in the spiritual world. Some of these people are on their path, as I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t a bit egotistical throughout my teachings. But with awareness, we can continue to shed these layers of ourselves.
​
Humanity is reaching a peak of a psychological and material epidemic. And those who remain grounded in this energetic shift know how to survive and thrive the natural way without praise from social media, the latest lulu pants or endless selfies in the mirror.

Gratitude is something that comes with awareness. I believe when stuck in a negative rut in life, gratitude reshapes one’s mindset. I don’t think you need to maintain a lifelong gratitude journal, but it’s all about awareness and the understanding of where things come from. 

It’s the respect of the sacred energy that goes into every process. So even if you are not a gardener, somewhere in the world, someone spent their energy to harvest the produce, care for the plants, plant the seeds and Mother Nature herself had to provide the roots enough energy and nutrients to survive.

The same goes for our ancestral lineage. Many of our ancestors battled war, poverty, starvation, market crashes – and everything in  between – and worked hard to create a better society for our existence. And sadly, our shitty attitudes and “selling our soul to the devil,” crushes every ounce energy that our ancestors have once overcome to give us a better life. In today’s PC culture, gratitude even appreciates and respects the diversity of thought. That is what makes humans so beautiful and complex. We all  have different perspectives and much bloodshed has occurred for us to express our voice. That energy is sacred when you change your perspective on it.  

Happiness, gratitude and materialism are opposite qualities. There is truth to those who the poorest are the happiest and those who are the most abundant battle depression, anxiety etc.
​
Gratitude releases our egoic pride and roots back to the basics of our natural existence. Sure, technology has provided us a lot of benefits, but at what point do we use our intelligence (heart) to override our intellect (head) to realize that technology also has a dark side, which rapes the Earth and makes us continuous narcissistic assholes. And why would anyone want to worship spiritual leaders or celebrities who are so full of themselves that they are basically bloated parasites sucking energy from everyone else to make them cool, beautiful, rich and hip. Many people are programmed so logically that they think life only operates as a cause and effect. For example, just because you meditate the way this "guru" says you'll automatically become abundant. That's entitlement at its worst, which uses spirituality as a gimmick. Just because you meditate doesn't mean you DESERVE abundance. 

Gratitude is the most fundamental root of human existence and is a key factor to being a spiritual leader, whether it’s a leader in a community or as a spiritual writer.

To end, Harvard Medical School states, “gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives … As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals – whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.”

Tell us - what are your thoughts about gratitude?